Improvement in apparatus for generating, carbureting, and burning hydrogen gas



BYRON SLOPER.

Improvemrent'in Apparatu for Generating, Carbure'ting,1

and Burning Hydrogen Gas.

PA'rnIv'r @Enron l BYRONSLOPER, or sr. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

"IMPROVEMENT |N APPARATUS FORGENERATING, cARBuREnNc. AND BURNING HYDRoeEN eAs.

Specification forming part of Iletters Patent No. 115,369, dated May 30, 1871.

To all 'whom it may concern: Y

Be itknown that I, BYRON SLOPER, of St.

V Louis, in the county of St. Louisand State of Missouri, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Apparatu-s for Generating, Carbureting, and Burning Hydrogen Gas; and I do herebydeclare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof.

My invention relatesto an apparatus for generating, carbureting, and burning hydrogen gas; and it has for its object to provide a brilliant and steady light, in all respects equal, if not superior, tothe ordinary gas-light, without the use of the expensive and cumbersome `machinery heretofore employed. It consists of a vessel of convenientsize and shape, to be used 4 and handled as a lamp, provided with a gas-generating chamberin which pure hydrogen gas is automatically generated,as required,

by theaction of dilute acid on zinc or iron filings; 'andof a carbureting-chamber containing gasoline or other similar material, through which the gas is passed `from the generatingchamber, and from thence, through a short tube, to the burner; and my invention further consists in `so constructing the lamp that it maybe `automatically lighted by electricity by directing a stream of pure hydrogen directly from the,v generator upon a piece of platinum ,sponge secured to the lamp in suitable proximity` to the burner.

In the drawing,Figure 1 Arepresents a sectional view of my lamp, and Fig. 2 a sectional view of the carbureter.

A is a vessel, of glass or other suitable material, of convenient size, and of any desired shape. B is a closed vessel, of metalor other suitable material, so constructed as to it into and rest upon the mouth of the vessel A. To

the bottom of the vessel B is secured, in yany convenient manner, a bell-shaped vessel, G, mouth downward. Inside of the vessel or bell C is secured, by means of a hook, c, or lugs, or in any other convenient manner, a` perforated basket, D, of glass, metal, or other suitable material, at some `distance above its mouth, as shown. From' the upper part of the bell C extends a small tube, c', through the bottom of thel vessel or carbureter B, establishing a communication `between said bell and carbureter, the said tube, through which the hydrogen passes, branching after passingm through the bottom of the carbureter, one branch terminating in said carbureter in order to deliver the gas to be carbureted, and/ ther other extending up through the carbureter and terminating at a point, a', near the burner, opposite to or above which point a piece of platinum sponge, d', is secured. By this means an auxiliary jet of pure hydrogen may be thrown, when desired, upon 'the platinum sponge and ignited, which will transfer the flame to 'the carbureted hydrogen at the burner and automatically ,light the illuminatinggas. The interior of the carbureter or vessel B is constructed with a winding or convolute passage, D', commencing at the center, as shown in Fig. 2, and filled with curled hair or its equivalent. At suitable intervals in said passage are arranged partitions e, which are provided with pipes' f extending-from their upper parts down into the ore or' hydrocarbon liquid for the purpose hereinafter described.

To the top 'of the carbureting-chamber B is attached a short tube, E, surmountedwith an ordinary gas-burner, F, and provided with a stop-cock, G.

To put my Water into the vessel A until it reaches the ridge or bead a, which is blown thereon as a guide, and then pour in sulphuric acid until` the contents reach the ridge a above. I then ll the basket C with granulated zinc or iron filings, and pour a proper quantity of gasoline into the carbureter through the top, the tube E having been previously removed for that purpose. I then set th'e carbureter B in vits place upon the mouth of the vessel A, immersing the Ibell O in the acidulated water. .Upon opening the cock at the burner the air will escape, and the dilute acid will rise in the bell until it reaches the zinc in the basket, and the generation of gas will commence, and the gas,

`after passing through the carbureter, will escape at the burner, where it will be consumed.

To light the gas, it-will only be necessary to turn the cock in the auxiliary tube so as to allow a stream of pure hydrogen to strike upon the platinum sponge for a few seconds, until the platinum sponge is heated to a white heat and ignites the jet of hydrogen. This will ignite the jet of carbureted hydrogen, af-

lamp in operation, I rst pour ter which the stream from the auxiliary jet gen-gas lamp, the use of the auxiliary jet of may be shut on". pure hydrogen and the platinum sponge for Having described my invention, what I the purpose of automatically lighting the earclaim, and desire to secure by Letters Patbureted hydrogen as it escapes at the burner. ent, is- BYRON SLOPER.

1. A carbureted hydrogen-gas lamp, consistin g of a generating and carbureting-ohamber combined, for the purpose described.

2. In combination with a carbureted hydro- Witnesses:

GHAS. L. Gooi/nas, Jos. L. OOOMBS. 

